A British mother has been crowned slimmer of the year after losing more than half her body weight when she saw she was considered ‘morbidly obese’ by her GP. 

Ali Ridgley, 52, from Plymouth, Devon, lost an incredible 13 stone to win the title of Slimming World’s Woman of the Year 2024 but insists that she still eats ‘everyday foods’ such as red wine and chocolate.

The military manager said she was spurred into action after catching the worrying words ‘morbidly obese’ on her medical records during a check-up. 

The phrase shocked her into action as she revamped her diet and began exercising regularly – and now even runs her own dance classes.

Ali, who weighed almost 23st at her heaviest, said: ‘Seeing the words on my doctor’s screen spurred me into action. I was a heart attack waiting to happen.

‘Ultimately, I started this journey because I wanted to live life to the fullest – and that’s what I feel I can do now. I’m the woman I always wanted to be.’

Ali’s weight loss journey began in 2019 when she joined Neil Fenton’s Slimming World group in Southway after her marriage broke down and she had a ‘massive crisis of confidence’.

She started by eating ‘everyday, normal food’ in moderation and, as the pounds began to come off,  she managed to bring exercise into her daily routine.

Ali Ridgley from Plymouth, Devon, has been crowned Slimming World’s Woman of the Year for 2024

The 52-year-old said she was spurred into action after catching the worrying words ‘morbidly obese’ on her medical records during a check-up

The military mess manager weighed almost 23st at her heaviest

Now Ali weighs 9st 13½lbs, dropping from a size 20 to a size 6.

She said: ‘I knew my weight was a problem – I’d always been bigger than my friends, but it wasn’t until I went to college and started socialising more that my weight began to climb.

‘I’d been a Slimming World member before, so I knew the plan worked for me – I just needed to make that mental shift to fully embrace it this time.’

Although Ali felt ‘a bit jittery’ about re-joining the weight loss programme, she said the Slimming World staff welcomed her ‘with open arms’. 

‘There was no judgement,’ she said. ‘Just encouragement and support from the start. 

‘When I weighed in, I realised I was the heaviest I had ever been.

‘The person at the scales said to me: “Don’t worry, that’s the last time you’ll see that number”. It was just the boost I needed. 

‘And you know what, she was right!’

Ali re-joined Slimming World and began to see the pounds drop off

Now Ali weighs 9st 13½lbs, dropping from a size 20 to a size 6 

She started by overhauling her diet and slowly began incorporating exercise into her daily routine

Ali, who lives with her daughter Rosie, 24, got stuck straight into Slimming World’s healthy eating plan.

She added: ‘Each pound I’ve lost has helped me to become the confident, fit and strong woman I am today and I’m so proud of myself. 

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‘I’m so glad that I didn’t go down the bariatric surgery route.

‘I cook meals from scratch now and I’m so much more organised – which means I’m never tempted to eat something unhealthy when I’m on-the-go.

‘I don’t feel like I’m on a diet and I’m never hungry because I’m still eating normal, everyday foods.’

Rosie has encouraged her mother’s weight loss journey, often sending over healthy TikTok recipes she wants to try.

Ali’s partner Dave has always been supportive.

‘It works easily for us a family,’ Ali said. ‘I love that we can all enjoy the same meals.

‘We go through the ingredients and see what we need to swap to make it Slimming World-friendly.

Ali’s weight loss journey began in 2019 when she joined Neil Fenton’s Slimming World group in Southway after her ‘marriage broke down’ and she had a ‘massive crisis of confidence’

Ali’s partner Dave and her daughters have been ‘supportive’ of her lifestyle change and she is happy that they can eat the same meals as a family

‘We never feel like we’re missing out because we’re always trying new things. Hunter’s chicken lasagne is our current favourite.’ 

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Over time, Ali started incorporating more activity into her daily routine with the help of Slimming World’s physical activity support programme.

She said: ‘At nearly 23st, exercise was a total no-go for me. When I had lost 6st, I plucked up the courage to join a dance fitness class.

‘I fell in love with it and ended up completing my diploma in exercise to music, so I now run my own classes twice a week.

‘I can’t imagine my life without dancing, so I feel confident about keeping these habits up and the weight off this time.’

Ali has also joined a local Couch to 5K group and signed up to run her first marathon. 

But being named Slimming World’s Woman of the Year isn’t the only title Ali has gained this year as she is now known as ‘nanny’ to her seven-week-old grandson, Taran.

She said: ‘When my daughter Claudia, 29, told me that she was pregnant, I was over the moon.

In the last year, Ali has also become a grandmother and looks forward to being able to keep up with the new addition to the family

‘There are certain things I missed out on when raising my daughters because of my size – I was often the mum on the sidelines holding the bags and not getting involved – and looking back that makes me feel so sad.

‘I feel like being Taran’s nanny is a second chance for me – I’ll be fit, active and healthy enough to keep up with him and enjoy those early years.’

Asked if she had any advice for her former self, Ali said: ‘Don’t be so hard on yourself. 

‘You’ve got that confidence, it’s in you, it’s deep down but go for it and go get what you deserve.’

Carolyn Pallister, registered dietitian and Head of Nutrition, Research & Health at Slimming World said: ‘Ali is truly inspiring and demonstrates what can be achieved, without resorting to weight loss drugs or surgery.

‘Ali has lost weight through making important healthy behaviour changes that have not only helped her lose 13st but have equipped her with lifelong healthy habits, not just for her but for her family too, and the confidence that she can maintain it for life.’